[NU Sports] Fort Worth?

[Jeff Beamsley]

I think the #1 criteria has to be a win.  So I agree that I would prefer a
minor bowl where we are the favorite versus a "major" bowl where we are
dogs.  It's fun to go some place warm in the winter, but it is no fun to
spend a lot of money to see the snot kicked out of your favorite team.
IMHO, winning a bowl game will do as much as destination to improve future
bowl game ticket sales (Rose Bowl always the exception here).

If attendance is a function of convenience, then the most convenient bowls
to our Chicago home base are Motor City and Music City in that order.  I
realize that there isn't much enthusiasm for Detroit as a destination on
this list, but I think those who actually went to the game (rather than just
complaining about he destination) were pleasantly surprised and had a good
time.  Ford Field is one of the best indoor facilities in the country and
Detroit has plenty of things to do for even the most snobbish culture
vulture.  Same thing is true of Nashville.  It is much more than country
music, just like Detroit is much more than bombed-out neighborhoods.

The fact that we are even able to have this discussion at this point in the
season, though, is a lot of fun and makes that debacle in Columbus a little
easier to take.

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
Behalf Of Joe Thiegs
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 1:22 AM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: [NU Sports] Fort Worth?

Collegefootballnews.com projects us in the Fort Worth Bowl against Tulsa on
December 23rd.  That's supposed to pit the Conference USA #4 against the Big
12 #8, but they predict that there will be no Big 12 team eligible for that
spot.  CFN's projections are based on the assumption of tOSU beating
Michigan, MSU upsetting PSU, and Iowa beating Minnesota.  Personally, I also
think the Buckeyes will win in Ann Arbor this year, but I think Penn State
will crush the Spartans and Minnesota will pull off a minor upset in Iowa
City.

Sugar: Ohio State vs. LSU
Capitol One: Penn State vs. Auburn
Outback: Michigan vs. Georgia
Alamo: Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma
Sun: Iowa vs. UCLA
Music City: Minnesota vs. Florida
Motor City: Michigan State vs. Miami (OH) Fort Worth: Northwestern vs. Tulsa
http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2005/Bowls/Bowl_Projections.htm
I am predicting that the Big Ten will get two BCS bids.  Given that the
Gophers have been to each of the Sun Bowl and Music City Bowl twice in the
last six years, I think it is most likely that they either end up in San
Antonio or drop all the way to Detroit.  I agree with those who guess that
the 'Cats will end up 7-4 and headed to El Paso or Nashville.  An
unaffiliated bowl might not be too bad (depending on which one).  A bowl
game is not in this year's budget--although I would have tapped into the
home equity line of credit for Pasadena!--so it doesn't make much of a
difference to me . . . except that I do want my listmates and other NU
friends to have a good time wherever it is.   :)
-Joe

___________________________________
Joseph K. Thiegs, J.D.
Planned Giving Officer
University of Minnesota Foundation
McNamara Alumni Center
200 Oak Street S.E., Suite 500
Minneapolis, Minnesota  55455-2010
Telephone:        612.624.4158  or
                            800.775.2187
Fax:                   612.625.4305
E-mail:              thiegs at umn.edu
Web:                  http://www.giving.umn.edu
__________________________________

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